Joel Hanna
Known for his athletic and boundary-breaking fusion of tap dance, musical percussion, Irish dance, and martial arts Joel Hanna has been called “one of the most exciting dancers to ever step on the World stage”.
Joel began his training at age 9 in Vancouver, B.C., achieving competitive success all over the world. Joel’s professional career took off after joining RIVERDANCE: The Show in 1997, performing throughout Britain and North America. During this time he was selected to be the subject of a documentary, produced by CBC/Riverdance, called "The Badboy and the Hometown Girl", which is still broadcast today. After two seasons, Joel left the Riverdance company to join the original stars of the show, Colin Dunne and Jean Butler, to perform in their production DANCING ON DANGEROUS GROUND in London’s West End, Radio City Music Hall, and the Royal Variety Performance.
Joel then went on to choreograph and star for four years as the original lead soloist in the critically acclaimed European production FIRE OF DANCE, which performed on more than 200 stages a year and included a special performance for the president of Yugoslavia.
He has taught and choreographed award-winning pieces for schools and professional dance companies all over North and South America, including The Vancouver Tap Society (BC), The Vanaver Caravan (NY), Solas an Lae (NY), Simon Fraser University (BC), New York University (NYU) and Columbia University (NY). Helping the infectious spread of Dance internationally, his innovative style of teaching and performing has been sought-after all over the world, from Mexico City to as far North as Juneau, Alaska, and from Singapore to Warsaw, London and back! Joel also spent the summer of 2008 touring as Lead Tap Soloist in a UK tour of Magic of the Dance.
In 2007 Joel created Revolution: Sweat, Dance, Rock & Roll, which debuted in New York City at the world-famous Joyce Theater during its 25th anniversary season in Oct. 07'. Following the phenomenal success of its run, the production (partnered with Columbia Artists Management Inc. or "CAMI") performed a national tour sponsored by Gibson Guitars. A European tour of “Revolution” is slated for the summer of 2012.
The flexible and creative physicality that Joel has developed over the years as a percussionist and martial artist – with additional training in Flamenco dance and guitar – has catapulted Joel into many circles of the international dance community. His performance and teaching style have gained him acceptance into the international Modern and Tap communities, and opportunities to perform on stage with legends such as Pete Seeger, Andrea Bocelli, Charles "Cholly" Atkins, Jimmy Slyde, Jeni LeGon, Dianne Walker, Brenda Bufalino, and Jason Samuels Smith. He is also the first dancer from Vancouver to have his own show open and run in New York City.
Recently, Joel performed for the delegates at the United Nations, opening the World Youth Assembly. He has performed as a soloist at the Jacob's Pillow Concert Series two years in a row, and has appeared with Grammy Award Nominee Dave Eggar at Lincoln Center in New York City. Joel premiered "Eagle", a new piece, for Choreography on The Edge. This December, Joel will be the first Canadian ever invited to perform in the Shilpgram Arts Festival in Udaipur, India. Joel has recently launched a new project in Mexico, forming the second chapter of the dance company "J-Han Dance."
Beyond his physical ability, Joel’s mesmerizing comfort, charisma, and warmth onstage invite audiences to join him as if he were welcoming them into his own home.
"The star of the show is undoubtedly Joel Hanna. His dynamic style of dance and body percussion and the speed with which he applies it is breathtaking."
-The BBC, UK
"A genuinely skilled and appealing dancer(Joel Hanna)"
-New York Times.
"He was unbreakably cool and composed no matter how hot his feet got."
-Weatherford Daily News
"Joel Hanna is one of the most talented performers I've ever worked with"
-Colin Dunne
"Perhaps nowhere is the intensity and beauty of Tap Dance better combined than with the artistry of Vancouver native, Joel Hanna."
–ReviewVancouver.org
